ON THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION - A - THE TIGER (Panthera tigris)

[peter]

SLAMET AND GOLIATH COMPARED

I said I had compared of Slamet and Goliath and concluded Goliath was a larger animal, but you decide for yourself. Here's the two photographs.  


1 - SLAMET

I have no information about his length, but Slamet was 148,2 kg. A bit over Mazak's maximum for Sumatrans:

*This image is copyright of its original author

 

2 - GOLIATH

At 295 cm. in total length (very probably measured 'over curves'), Denninghoff Stelling estimated him to be twice the weight of a large male wild boar. But what is the weight of a large male wild boar?

Remember Slamet was empty when they darted him, whereas Goliath and a small tigress had consumed most of a large male wild boar hours before he was shot. His belly is clearly extended. In spite of that, it is clear Goliath was a more robust animal:

*This image is copyright of its original author

 

Goliath was closer to the camera than Slamet, but the angles in both photographs is not that different. I don't know how tall Denninghoff Stelling was, but the Dutch were not short. Maybe he was similar to the second man on the left in the first photograph or slightly shorter.  


3 - WEIGHT

When I first saw the photograph of Goliath, my estimate was 160-175 kg. empty. After comparing both photographs, I would get to the upper end of it (170-175 kg.).  

As to the reasons of my estimate. Reliable records say Sumatran males are a bit longer in head and body than many expect (160-176 cm. in a straight line). Tails usually are short (not over 80 cm.). If Goliath really was 264-279 cm. in total length in a straight line and his tail would have been about normal in length, it could, at his size, have measured 75-85 cm. This means his head and body length would have been 180-200 cm. 

A bit over the top, I concluded. Let's assume I overestimated his length. Maybe he was 10 cm. shorter 'between pegs' than I thought (254-269 cm.). Let's assume his tail was 75-85 cm. If so, he would have been 170-195 cm. in head and body. Assuming he would have had about 0,8-1,0 kg. per cm. in length, this would have resulted in 136-195 kg.

I have no information about Sumatran tigers exceeding 185 kg., but we know Slamet was 148,2. As we also know Goliath was a larger animal, this would narrow it down to 148-185. If Goliath really had about 50 lbs. on Slamet, I would get to 170 kg., maybe a bit more. Let's say 170-180 kg. empty.

As we also know photographs and overestimates usually get along just fine, I propose to deduct 10 kg., which would result in 160-170 kg. As Denninghoff Stelling estimated him to be twice as heavy as a large male wild boar, I added 5-10 kg., resulting in 165-180 kg. I propose 380 pounds (172,37 kg.) empty as the best guess for now.

But. Just suppose the measurement of Denninghoff Stelling was an accurate measurement taken 'over curves'. Also suppose my initial estimate regarding his total length 'between pegs' (264-279 cm.) was right and the tiger was as robust as I think he was. If so, it can't be excluded the tiger was at least 180 cm. in head and body length and 400 pounds or slightly over in weight.

The photograph of Denninghoff Stelling compares to the photograph of the Sungari River tiger in that both (to an extent) prove that records of large tigers in the past can't be dismissed out of hand. Some Amur tigers might have approached or exceeded 650 pounds and some very large Sumatran tigers might have topped 400 pounds.        


4 - UNKNOWN JAVA TIGER


Now that we're at it, what about this tiger? 

Skullwise, Java tigers had slightly better averages than Sumatrans, but they, like today's Amur tigers, also showed less individual variation. Based on the photographs I saw, I would say Sumatrans were a bit more compact, especially in the body, whereas Javan tigers, apart from longer skulls, had longer and more muscular limbs. Javan tigers could have been closer to mainland tigers (longer, taller and more athletic).     

What would be your estimate for this male?

  

*This image is copyright of its original author

It would help when the three photographs, angle and distancewise, could be compared. If someone would succeed, we could use Slamet's weight as a start. Was he heavier than Slamet? If so, by how much? Why? Reply